Monday, September 27, 2010

Three years ago to the day, I realized something profound. Food fascinates me. Ingredients, preparation methods, techniques, cultures, tools, traditions. All of those are something that I can't seem to get my fill of. And the best part is that the information and knowledge are endless.

After realizing this thing about myself, I wanted to write a food blog. I had seen a few and I thought I could take a crack at it. So I did and Rookie Cookie became mine.

I started out small. Posting occasionally and learning more about what my "culinary focus" was. As Jack, who was 2 at the time, grew and developed, I wanted him to try it all. So my food became more diverse. I found so much excitement in bringing home a new ingredient from the store and making something with it. Chinese long beans, orange blossom honey, walnut oil and blessed Nutella. Things found on the grocery top shelf, usually ignored.

As I blogged, our lives carried on. Jack grew, I had a miscarriage, got pregnant again, we went on vacations. And then there was the part where we found out my husband's weird looking feet were going to change our lives. Change them in the way that a failed surgery would move us from California to Utah. We would live at my parent's house for over a year and I would cry about all of this a lot. I would lay in bed on Ethan's shoulder at night and cry. Cry about leaving so many friends, family and our house. Cry about our income dissolving and being unsure about our future.

Oddly enough, these life-altering changes seemed to be cushioned with standing over a pot of simmering soup or rolling out a pie crust. Blogging about food and creating recipes became a welcome diversion. I didn't know it then, but food was healing me. Creating something was comforting. Moving away from my little house in California was painful. Watching my husband endure so many ailments was painful. A realization of an eventual wheelchair was painful. Feeling helpless with our lives being turned upside down was painful. But food was the one constant in my life. I might not be able to control what was going on, but I could control what was for dinner.

So blog I did. Blogged like crazy and used it as a distraction. I gained more readers, I met new friends and I stretched my cooking abilities. And all the while, my mom and dad footed the grocery bill and encouraged me along, knowing full well that cooking and food were my therapy.

Time has moved on. Ethan's foot pains are under control for now. Business is blossoming. Children are growing. There isn't anything in my life that scares me anymore. There are no more crying phone calls to my listening-ear sister Megan. I am happy and satisfied. So happy.

Food blogging has served it's purpose for me. I have gained so much from it and I can truly say it changed my life. It was a welcome focus when my life was hard. But as all things go, there is a time and a season. So it is with a grateful heart that I say goodbye. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for giving me a place to stretch my abilities. I can truthfully say that I wouldn't be the cook I am without food blogging.

Please know you can always e-mail me if you have any cooking questions or just want to catch up. I would love to hear from you. whitney_leigh_ingram@yahoo.com. And no worries, I won't be taking the blog down. I will keep it up and you are still welcome to the recipes.

Since I really enjoy writing, I might end up doing just that on another blog sometime in the future. So I do have a blog you might want to subscribe to or check in on from time to time. whitneyingram.blogspot.com.

Once again, thank you so much for your friendship. Good luck and God bless.

How wonderful that you are blessed to know that this is the season to move on even though your food blog is very popular and successful. It takes strength and courage to recognize that something has served a purpose and now it is finished/done.

Those of us who looked forward to your posts will miss you and your Rookie Originals, but thank you for leaving the blog up so we can delve into the archives of past culinary delights.

I was so disappointed to hear you're not blogging anymore! I have been following you for just a couple months and literally yesterday my daughter who is starting to be interested in cooking added you to her list of cooking blogs. We will really miss you and your wonderful recipes!

Seriously this is worse than the final episode of Full House which totally crushed my little 10 year old soul! I am happy you are happy though. I have throughly enjoyed your blog and wisdom, and sassy-ness!! Your soups will live on at our home as an INSITIUTION! Best of Wishes! Jessica Gaby

Knew it was coming, mixed feelings it's here. I so loved having a famous food blog daughter. Proud of you tho, honey, for having the smarts to see what's best for you and your family, and then following through with it.

I found your blog through a friend's and just wanted to say I have really enjoyed reading it and have shared it with other friends who I knew would love it just as much. I've expanded my cooking ability from making mac n cheese to all sorts of yummy dishes I found on your blog. I'm shocked to find I actually love cooking! Mine, my husband's and my son's tummies all thank you! Thanks for brightening my life with your hilarious humor and delicious food. Good luck to you and your adorable family!

Thank you for your candor and heartfelt experiences. I'm sad to see you leave the food blogging world since I have been a faithful reader for a long time. But I understand how life changes and evolves and I really, truly wish you and your family the best. You are one of those rare, wonderful people who are true to themselves - it has always shown in your honest writing and it has portrayed you well. I admire you!

Wah for me! Yeah for you! This is my go-to food blog...so many yummy recipes. Thanks for sharing your talent and fun stories and your joy in your daily life. Good luck with your family and in the future.

Although I have never commented on your posts in the past, I have always enjoyed popping in to see what's cookin' . . . in your kitchen and your life! I'll certainly miss being able to do that, but am very happy for your happiness - thanks for everything!

All the best to you, your husband, son one, son two, and daughter one!

Whitney,I have so enjoyed reading your blog over the last year and a half. It has been kind of like therapy for me too! I am so happy that life is better for you now. I will miss you, your clever posts, and of course your delicious recipes. Lots and lots of blessings to you and your family.

auuugh. what's a girl to do? i'll try to be happy for you, but this is a bummer. you were one of the few food bloggers i could trust - because every time i tried one of your recipes - they were excellent. thank you and go and enjoy your happy life. i'll be busy printing all your recipes for the next 37 hours. bb

Can I call you Whit? You did send me an email once when I was asking about muffin recipes. So that pretty much makes us best friends, right? I'll let you call me Rach. Anyway, I just found your postpartum recipes and I was going to ask you to post a few more. So are you sure you don't want to blog for just a few more weeks, for your new best friend?

I read your post and so many selfish emotions ran through me. I was screaming into the universe "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" I love her writing, I love her recipes, I love her blog! She can't quit, what about me? It's not fair. But then I had a moment to calm down and realize that this must be what is best for you and your family. I am so glad you are in a happy place and I hope that continues well into the future. Thank you for leaving the blog up. I too was thinking, Hurry! Print everything before it's gone! Why oh why doesn't she have a cookbook?!

It's funny, I started a food blog for the exact same reason. I needed something else to focus on and I needed a way to heal. I am so glad that you are in a good place now! And so sad that you won't be posting anymore. I hope someday I will get to that place as well! Good luck!

Oh this makes me so sad for myself and so happy for you. I love your blog and all of your recipes...I made your chicken and rice soup last night and my suddenly picky two year old ate it up. (The first time he's eaten anything other than pb&j in a week). Thanks for that and all of your other recipes. Good luck and we all wish you the best!!

I will miss your posts and your new recipes but so glad you'll be keeping the blog up. There are so many I have yet to try. You'll always be credited with turning my family on to candied bacon...among some other very yummy things.

Just wanted to say thanks for the blog. There has been many recipies that I have tried and loved andmany more that are wating for me to make them. So thanks for keeping the blog up so I don't have to print them all out and then loose the recipes before I even get a chance to write them. Good luck in your future endevors!

I am happy to hear that life has improved for you and your family but I'm sad to see you go. I've always enjoyed my visits here and the yummy food you created. Wishing you and your family the very best, now & always!~ingrid

i will miss r.c. and check your possible new blog regularly. i hope you leave your recipes up for me (or i'll have to do some printing). and i'm so happy you guys are doing so well. i go through the "how are we going to do this" all the time.

You are right, as always! There is a time and a season and you definitely have your priorities in order. Wife first, Mother second, everything else comes next. I know you will continue to create fabulous recipes and pieces of writing.

Good luck in your next chapter of life and again, thanks for the Peanut Butter Pancakes!

please please PLEASE consider making a for sale print book of these delightful recipes..I would buy 10 for myself and all females in my family! I have sent my young newly married neices, my college son and my far away in another country son and even my mom to your blog for recipes!

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